Pet info
Vaccinations are a critical component to preventive care for your pet. Thanks to the development of vaccines, pets have been protected from numerous disease threats including rabies, distemper, hepatitis, and several others. Diseases that once occurred frequently are now rare, but have not been eradicated. Lapses in vaccination can result in new disease outbreaks. Some of these diseases can be passed from animals to people — so pet vaccinations protect human health as well.
What possible risks are associated with vaccination?
As is the case with any medical decision, you and your veterinarian should make vaccination decisions after considering your pet’s age, lifestyle, and potential exposure to infectious diseases.
Vaccine reactions are rare. In general, most vaccine reactions and side effects (such as local pain and swelling) are self-limiting and last around 24 hours. Allergic reactions are less common, but can be severe in some cases. These usually occur soon after vaccination. If you see such a reaction, please contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
In a small number of patients, vaccines can stimulate the patient's immune system against his or her own tissues, resulting in diseases that affect the blood, skin, joints, or nervous system. Again, such reactions are exceedingly rare but can be life-threatening. There is a very small risk of a growth developing at the vaccination site. This occurs more commonly in cats, but is still very rare. Please contact your veterinarian for more information about vaccinations for your pet.
8 weeks | - Feline rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (FVRCP) |
12 weeks | - FVRCP |
16 weeks | - FVRCP |
| 1 year after rabies vaccine administered | - FVRCP - Rabies - Optional: Feline leukemia (outdoor cats) |
The frequency of vaccinations thereafter may be determined by you and your veterinarian.
8 weeks | - Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza (DAPP) |
12 weeks | - DAPP - Leptospirosis - Bordetella (kennel cough) - Lyme |
16 weeks | - DAPP - Rabies - Leptospirosis - Bordetella (kennel cough) - Lyme |
| 1 year after rabies vaccine administered | - DAPP - Rabies - Optional: - Leptospirosis - Bordetella (kennel cough) - Lyme |
The frequency of vaccinations thereafter may be determined by you and your veterinarian.
Instructions for postoperative care will depend on the type of surgical procedure your pet has undergone. However, some basic guidelines apply to most surgeries. Specific instructions will be given by your veterinarian.
- Your pet is likely to be drowsy for 24 to 36 hours. Keep them in a quiet, comfortable place.
- Vomiting may occur in the immediate postoperative period. Feeding smaller portions can help reduce the likelihood of this. If vomiting occurs, consult your vet.
- Exercise should be restricted until any sutures are removed. After the operation, cats must be kept indoors for at least 24 hours and dogs must be taken on short, leashed walks only.
- Check the incision daily. There is no need to wash it, but it is very important that you prevent your pet from licking it. Licking of a surgical incision can cause inflammation and introduce infection, which may necessitate further medication. Your pet may try to remove sutures while licking, which can lead to another procedure under general anesthesia to replace the sutures. Elizabethan collars (cones) or bandages are ways of preventing self-inflicted damage.
- Bandages should be kept clean and dry. They must be checked daily for signs of swelling (above or below the bandage), dryness, and signs of discharge.
- Ensure medication is given at the stated dosage and that the course is completed.
If you become at all concerned about your pet's health during the postoperative period, do not hesitate to contact us.
Spaying or neutering your pet is a routine surgical procedure performed at our hospital. We recommend that the procedure be done at 6 months of age.
In females, spaying (AKA ovarian hysterectomy) refers to the surgical removal of both ovaries and the uterus.
Reasons to have your pet spayed:
1. Prevent unwanted pregnancies
2. Eliminate heat cycles
3. Eliminate the risk of certain types of cancers
Spaying your pet before their first heat significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancers later in life.
In males, neutering refers to the surgical removal of the testes.
Reasons to have your pet neutered:
1. Prevent unwanted pregnancies
2. Reduce roaming and fighting urges
3. Reduce territorial marking behaviour
4. Reduce the risk of prostatic diseases
Heartworm is a parasite that infects both dogs and cats, and is transmitted through mosquito bites.
When bitten by a mosquito, heartworm larvae are injected under the skin and then migrate to the heart, where they mature into adults. This maturation can take several months. Once mature, adult heartworms reside in the heart and the pulmonary arteries where they cause disease. Adult heartworms can reach 14 inches in length!
Clinical Signs
Dogs with heartworms in their bodies are not always obviously sick. Typically, the greater the number of worms, the worse the disease becomes. These parasites can cause respiratory and heart disease resulting in coughing, exercise intolerance, and eventually, congestive heart failure.
Treatment
Treatment of a heartworm infection is not without risks, as circulation of dead heartworms in the body can cause a severe reaction. The cost of treatment can also be very high.
It involves killing the worms living in the heart, which is performed in the hospital over a number of days by giving multiple injections of medication. Further treatment involves removal of the larval worms circulating in the bloodstream.
Prevention
Fortunately, heartworm disease can be prevented by using a monthly anti-parasitic medication during months when mosquitoes are active. These medications kill the larval forms of the worm so that they never have the chance to become adult worms and cause disease. Ask us about your options for heartworm prevention.
It is fairly common for a dog or cat to become infected with an internal parasite at some point in its lifetime. In fact, a large percentage of puppies are born with parasites that they contract from their mother before birth.
Parasites can affect your pet in a variety of ways. Although some animals are asymptomatic with a parasitic infection, symptoms can occur such as malnourishment and increased susceptibility to disease despite vaccination. They may also have chronic diarrhea and vomiting and never reach their ideal body weight or muscle mass.
There are a number of intestinal parasites that can infect dogs and cats. Most commonly, these include roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms and protozoal parasites such as Coccidia or Giardia. Intestinal parasites are generally prolific and can produce up to 100 000 eggs per day, which are then passed in the pet’s feces and spread throughout the environment. Once in the environment, some of these eggs can remain infective for years and present an on-going health risk.
Some species of intestinal parasites are transmissible to humans, especially roundworms and hookworms. Humans can accidentally ingest infective worm eggs from the pet or the environment. These eggs then hatch in the human’s intestinal tract and the larval forms of these worms can travel to various tissues in the body, including the eyes and brain. This form of parasitic infection is called visceral larval migraines and is a very serious disease in humans. Young children and people who are immunosuppressed are at the highest risk for these infections.
At Trim Pet Hospital, we strive to educate our clients about the risks of parasitic infections in animals (and humans) and recommend appropriate parasite control programs in order to keep you and your pets healthy.
The most common external parasites of cats and dogs include fleas, ticks, ear mites, and skin mites (sarcoptic mange, demodectic mange and Chyletiella). External parasites can result in skin disorders such as itchiness, rashes, and hair loss, and some can even affect humans. Fortunately, there are very effective products now available for treatment and prevention of these infestations.
If you have any questions about parasitic infections and your pet, please contact your veterinarian.